Chain feed



June 8' 1926.

1,587,635 R. w. DULL.

CHAT. N FEED Filed NOV. 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenzfo? June 8 1926.

CHAIN FEED Filed Nov 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ficyrrzokd WflaZZ. y I W 1,587,635 R. w. DULL Patented June 8, 1926.

UN ET EL) ST RAYMOND "W. DULL, '01? CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASfiIGNOR TO LINK-BEE COMEPZAN Y, OF CHICAGO, ELLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CHAIN FEED.

Application filed November 28, 1924. Serial 'No. 752,524.

My invention relates to a feeding means forchain presses and particularly to a'chain feed for employment with a chain press of the type which produces chain having i links each con'ipi'ising flat sidebars and cylindrieal end bars. My invention relates particularly to feeding means for drawing the feed chain forwardly from the press, as the links are completed in the press, and joinedto-each other by action of the press.

()ne object is to provide a chain feed whiclrshall be synchronized with the actu ation of the press gate. Another object is to provide a chain feed driven from the main shaft of the press. Another object is to provide aichain feed having aunaximum range of adj ustability both: as to the length of the feed stroke, and the length of the individual link, and the timing of the feed strokes. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of'the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention moreor'less dia grammatically in the accompanying drawiugs wherein Figure '1 'is an end elevation of the press;

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation; and

Figure '3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols tln'ougliout the specification and drawings.

A is any suitable base, upon which is mounted the lower frame supporting element li on which in turn is superposed the main frame A of the press. This frame may be of any suitable type and its details are not claimed as part of the present invention. A is an upper frame portion and the entire assembly may be tied together by massive vertical bolts A and the securing nuts B is a bracket-on the main frame member A upon which .is superposed any suitable motor means B having the shaft B and the sprocket B thereupon. B is any suitable driving chain which passes about the larger sprocket B on the shaft B B is any suitable fly wheel on the same shaft and -C is a toothed gear, mounted on the shaft B and in mesh with the larger gear C mounted upon the shaft C which passes horizontally through the junction of the frame members A and A and terminates in the cap C Adjustably mounted on said rotatingcap C is the adjusting disk D provided with to be moved therealong in response .to re- .arcuate concentric slots D through which pass the adjusting bolts D mounted on the cap-C? and provided with washers D The adjusting disk D is provided with a trans- .verse raised portion D centrally slotted .as :at D and provided with .a worm D and a perforated turn wheel-DY, therefor. E isa securing pin or bolt the inner end of which is in mesh with the worm D and isadapted tation of'the wheel D Rotatableabout the pin E is the yoke E *having the armsE between which is provided-the terminal portion E of'the linker rod E4. Theielement H is the die member of the chain press and H the punch member mounted on the gate H which is adapted to reciprocate u and down along the vertical guides H The details of the chain press form no part of the present invention, but it will be realized that the press, in response to the timed and regular reciprocation of the punch member, feeds forwardly a continuous completed chain. This chain passes outwardly across a flat bottomed table J, having the chainsupporting surface J and the adjustable side guide blocks J The rock" shaft G transversely overlies the chain as it is fed forward. Held against rotation on said rock shaft is the lever element'Gr at end of which is pivoted the stem G outwardly screw-threaded as'at G Adjustable along the terminal screw-threaded portion is the dog element G held by the 105 adjusting nuts G 'VVhile I have illustrated a fully operative device, it will be realized thatmany changes may be made in the size, shape, number, and

disposition of parts without departing from 110 the spirit of my'invention, and that I wish E is rotatable about an axis substantially 5 2 my drawings and description to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative, rather than as limiting me to the specific structure described and shown.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I illustrate a form of chain feed which may be applied to any type of chain press in which opposed punch or press elements are given relative movement toward and away from each other to form a chain from stock fed therebetween. I employ a press actuating shaft, driven in any suitable manner, which serves to reciprocate a press gate toward and away from a die block, the details of this drive and of the punch and block forming no part of the present invention.

In the form of press herein illustrated, the opposed punch and die elements are so shaped as to punch out the central aperture of each link blank, to form hook and pintle tongues from the material so punched out, to sever the adjacent blanks, and to roll. the hook tongue of each blank about the pintle of the adjoining blank, to form a continuous chain. The chain presses from the press to the feed table, which consists of a plane surface, along the sides of which are positioned adjustable or removable guide blocks, which may be adjusted or varied to permit and guide the feed of chain of various widths.

In the form of press herein shown the stock and the chain stock is fed forward one step between each forming impact of the punch upon the die, but the means for feeding the stock forward are not shown, since they form no part of my present invention. The stock is fed forward by a step-by-step movement, because each single blank, to form chain of the type described, must receive a plurality of forming impacts from the forming elements which are spaced along the punch and die. As soon as the individual. links have been severed from each other it becomes necessary to draw the completed chain forwardly from the press, and it is to this forward movement or feeding of the chain that the present improvement is directed.

I provide a plane table J along which the chain is adapted to be moved. In order to permit the use of the machine with chain of different width I provide guide blocks J shown as adjustable on the table J. In order to feed the chain I provide a dog or pusher which reciprocates along the table J between the guides J and engages the outer end of each link successively, recipro eating in unison with the movement of the press, and having a feeding stroke equivalent in length to the particular link length of the chain being fed.

In order to obtain this timed motion I provide a rotating cap C at the end of the shaft C Adjustable on the rotating cap is the disk I) upon which in turn is ad justably mounted the crank pin E. Since the pin E can be moved radially toward and away from the center of the disk and since it may also be arcuatel v adjustable about the center of the disk, I can adjust not only the stroke but the point of de parture of the stroke of any member driven from the crank pin. The link E is in universal pivotal connection with the crank pin E, and is also adjustable as to length in relation to it. Mounted transversely across the table J is the rock shaft G the rock lever G of which is rocked by the link E, in response to rotation of the shaft C The lever G is engaged by the member G which is longitudinally movable along the link E thus providing another means of adjustment.

The rock shaft G carries the rocking lever or rocking arms G to which is PlVOiiGAl the stem G At the outer end of the stem is longitudinally adjustable the element (i which actually engages the chain.

It will thus appear that although the shaft C is constantly driven and that therefore the dog G will always move in direct response to its rotation, and thus in synchro nized relation with the press gate, nevertheless I can adjust the chain feed flexibly to any size of chain. I can, for example, adjust the actual length of stroke by adjusting the crank pin E toward or away from the center of the crank disk. This permits adjustment to compensate for changes in size of link, since the feeding stroke must be equal to the length of the link. However since all. links, no matter what their size, issue from the press at a fixed point, it becomes necessary to adjust the point at which each individual feeding stroke of the dog begins. Otherwise, when the length of chain link is changed the dog might start its stroke intermediate the ends of the particular link it overlies and move a considerable distance before it contacts the end link against which it should abut when its stroke starts. The necessary adjustment may be effected in a number of ways. The element G may be moved along the stem G". The rock lever Gr may be longitudinally adjusted along the link E. The link E may be adjusted as to length in relation to the holding member E. Or the crank disk D may be rotated in relation to the shaft C In practice I may use some one of these various adjustments or a combination of them, depending upon the degree of ad justment to be made.

I claim:

1. The combination with a chain press, having a fixed die and an opposed punch and means for reciprocating it, of chain feedin means :for Ifeeding :the completed chain orwardly from the press step by step, in responseto reciprocation of the punch, comprising a chain engaging dog and a chain supporting element adapted directly to receive the chain passing thereacross along which the dog is adapted to bereciprocated.

2. The combination with achainpress of a chain feed comprising a plane surfaced support adapteddirectly to receive the chain passing thereacross, --a dog and means, synchronized with the movement of the press, for reciprocating the 'dog across the support. I

3. The combination witha chain press of a chain feed comprising a plane surfaced support adapted directly to receive the chain passing th'ereacross, a dog and means, synchronized withthe movement of the press,ffor reciprocating the dogacross the support, and means for adjusting the initial position of the dog along the support.

4. The combination with achain press of a chain feed comprising a plane surfaced support adapted directly -,to receive the chain passing 'thereacross, a dog and means, synchronized with the movement of the press, for reciprocating the dog across the support, and means for adjusting the effective length of the dog.

5. The combination with a chain press ,of a chain feed comprising a plane surfaced 3 support, a dog and means, synchronized with the movement of the press, for reciprocating the dog across the support, means for adjusting the initial position ofthe dog ailongthe support, and means for adjusting 40 the effectivedength of 'the dog.

6. 'Thecombination with a chain press of ,a chain feed comprising a-chain supporting table adapted directly to receive "the chain passing thereacross, a dog adapted to engage the individual link elements of the chain, and means for reciprocating said dog to impart to said chain a step by step move ment across said table.

7. The combination with a chain press of a chain feed comprising a chain supporting table adapted directly to receive the chain passing thereacross, a dog adapted to engage the individual link elements of the chain, means for reciprocating said dog to impart to said chain a step by step movement across said table, and means for adjusting the effective length of the dog.

8. The combination with a chain press and a fixed die and an opposed punch, and means for reciprocating the punch, of chain feeding means comprising in part a chain supporting table adapted directly to receive the chain passing thereacross, a rock shaft positioned above said table, a dog mounted on said rock shaft, and means for rocking rocatingpunch and means for reciprocating it, comprising 111' part a drive shaft, of chain feedingimeans directly responsive to 'pleted chain.

said shaft in response to :thereciprocation of sald punch.

9. The combination :with a chain press having a fixed die and an opposed rec1p the rotation of said drive shaft, comprising a crank plate, a connecting llnkpivoted on said plate, a-rock shaftactuated bysaid link,

a rocking lever extending outwardly from said shaft, t CllEtlIl engaging dog plvoted upon said lever, and a feed table adapted directly to receive and support the com- 10. The combination with a chain press having-a fixed-die and an'opposed reclprocating punch-and means for reciprocating it, comprising in part a drive-shaft, of chain feeding means directly responsive to the rotation of saiddrive shaft comprising a crank plate, a connecting link pivoted on said plate, means for adjusting the point Of-(20111160131011 OfSttlfl l1nk with said crank plate in relation to the'center of rotation .of said plate, a rock shaft actuated by said link, a-rocki1fg lever extending outwardly fromsaid sha ft, a linkengaging dog pivoted upon 'said' lever, a feed table adapted directly to receive and support the completed chain, and means for adjusting the length of the dog.

12. The combination with a chain press havinga fixed dieand anopposed reciprocating punch and means for reciprocating it comprising in part a drive shaft, of chain feeding means directly responsive to the rotation of said drive shaft, comprising a crank plate, a connecting link pivoted on said plate, a rock shaft actuated by said link, a rocking lever extending outwardly from said shaft, a link engaging dog pivoted upon said lever, a feed table adapted directly to receive and support the completed chain, and means for adjusting the initial position of the dog along the table.

13. The combination with a chain press, having a fixed die and an opposed punch and means for reciprocating it, of chain feeding means for feeding the completed chain forwardly from the press step by step, in response to reciprocation of the punch, comprising a link engaging dog and a chain supporting element along which the dog is adapted to be reciprocated, and chain guiding means positioned upon said supporting element.

14-. The combination with a chain press, having a fixed die and an opposed punch and means for reciprocating it, of chain feeding means for feeding the completed chain forwardly from the press step by step, in response to reciprocation of the punch, comprising a chain engaging dog and a plane surfaced chain supporting element along which the dog is adapted to be reciproeated, and laterally adjustable guiding means positioned on said supporting element.

15. In a chain forming press, a fixed die and an opposed reciprocating die, and means for reciprocating it comprising in part a rotary drive shaft, means for feeding the completed chain forwardly from the press,

comprisin a feed table over which the chain is adapted to pass, a crank plate rotating in direct response to the rotation of the rotary drive shaft, a connecting link extending thence, a dog actuating lever mounted adj acent said table, a dog actuated thereby and adapted to reciprocate along the feed table, a driving connection between said lever and said connecting link, and means for adjusting the point of connection of the connecting link and the dog actuating lever.

16, In a chain forming press, a fixed die and an opposed reciprocating die, and means for reciprocating it comprising in part a rotary drive shaft, means for feeding the completed chain forwardly from the press, comprising a plane surfaced feed table over which the chain is adapted to pass, a crank plate rotating in direct response to the rotation of a rotary drive shaft, a connecting link extending thence, a dog actuating lever mounted adjacent said table, a dog actuated thereby, a driving connection between said lever and said connecting link, and means for adjusting the length of the (10 17. In a chain feed mechanism adapted to be actuated by a chain press drive shaft. a plane surfaced feed plate over which the chain is adapted to be fed from the press, means for feeding the chain forward step by step, comprising a pivoted dog adapted successively to e age the end of each link, and means for reciprocating said dog in timed relation to the movement of the press, comprising a crank disk mounted upon one end of said drive shaft, a connecting link pivoted to said crank disk adapted to rotate about an axis at right angles to the axis of rotation of said shaft, means for adjusting the point of connection between said connecting rod and said crank disk in relation to the center of rotation of said shaft, a rock shaft mounted above the chain feed plate, a plurality of lever arms projecting therefrom, said dog being pivoted to one arm of said rock shaft, and a pivot connection between said connecting link and the other arm of said bell crank lever.

18. The combination with a chain press of chain feeding means for feeding the com pleted chain forwardly from the press step by step in response to its reciprocation, com prising a supporting element adapted directly to receive and support the chain, a dog, and means for reciprocating it along said element in response to movement of the press.

19. The combination with a chain press of chain feeding means for feeding the completed chain forwardly from the press step by step in response to its reciprocation, comprising a supporting element adapted directly to receive and support the chain, a dog, and means for reciprocating it along said element in response to movement of the press, and means for adjusting the effective width of said chain supporting element.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 24th day of November, 1924:.

RAYMOND W. DULL. 

